Clamping mechanism for rolling screens



March 25, 1930. G. M. sAcERDoTE CLAMPING MECHANISM FOR ROLLING SCREENS 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Deo. 2. 1925 illllllllllilnlnll 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l.

G. M. SACERDOTE CLAMPING MECHANISM FOR ROLLING SCREENS March 25, 1930.

Filed Dec. 2, 1925 Patented Mar. 25, 1930 WED sra'ras GUIDO M. SACERDOTE, 0F BAYSIDE, NEW YORK, .ASSIGNOR TO BELKNAP MCLAUGHLIN, OF FLUSHING, NEW YORK CLAMPING MECHANISM FOR ROLLING SCREENS Application filed December 2, 1925.

This invention relates to rolling screens or shades, and more particularly refers to a novel and improved mechanism for clamping the side edges of a rolling screen when eX- tended to its operative position, in order to insure tight closing of the window to which the screen is applied, at the same time preventing possible bulging or distortion of the screen, due to wind pressure or to other causes.

The primary object of this invention, is to provide a novel and effective arrangement of clamping mechanism for the side edges of a rolling screen, whereby a positive clamping action may be obtained in a simple manner, by means of parts which can be entirely concealed within the screen frame.

Another object of this invention, is to provide, in a device of the class mentioned, a clamping mechanism for the side edges of a rolling screen, which shall operate effectively and automatically upon the screen attaining its fully extended position.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will more fully appear as the description proceeds, and will be set forth andclaimed in the appended claims.

In another patent for Rolling screens, issued to me July 7 1925, Serial No. 1,545,282, I have pointed out the advantages resulting, in a device of this character, by clamping or otherwise locking the side edges of aV rolling screen when extended. The main advantage is, that the screen is maintained taut, and will not easily yield to pressure which may be exerted upon its surface by inadvertently forcing the hands against it, or by the action of the' wind or other causes.

The clamping action should be such as not to damage the fabric, and should be effective and uniformly distributedA throughout the length of the screen., Some types of rolling screens heretofore in use have been provided with hook members or other retaining means, projecting'sidewise from ,the screen, engaging a side rail preventing inward movement of the screen edge. These means are objectionable, inasmuch as they interfere with the uniformity of the screens surface and with its even winding; furthermore, the fabric of Serial No. 72,762.

which these screens are made is of a rather delicate nature, and even a moderate pressure against thescreen is sufficient to tear olf the hook members or other similar retaining means used.

It is desirable that the locking action upon the sides of the screen be solely dependent upon the operation of means independent of the screen itself, leaving the screen fabric intact and unchanged. I obtain this, as stated, by a clamping action within the side rails obtained, by means of a properly designed mechanism, the clamping surfaces being preferably lined with some semiplastic material, such as rubber or asbestos packing, increasing their efficiency.

The main diiiiculty lies not so much in providing this feature per se, as in the limitations imposed upon the designer by the nas ture of the device, The clamping means should be as far as possible concealed within the side rails, which should in their turn be as unobtrusive as possible; their operation should be simple, fool proof, possibly automatic, and, of course, effective throughout the entire length of the screen. iat the same time. sharp limitations are also imposed by considerations of cost, which make it imperative for the device to be simple, composed of relatively few parts and adapted for mass production methods.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings, in which:

F ig. l is a front view in elevation, partly broken away and sectioned, showing the general appearance of my rolling screen;

Fig. 2 is a side sectional view in elevation of the same, through line 2 2 of Fig. 1

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side sectional view in elevation through the lower end of one of the side rails, showing the clamping member locked in its inoperative position;

Fig. 4 is a similar view, showing the clamping member about to be released-by the descending screen;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary front sectional View in elevation through line 55 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a detail side view in elevation of a possible modification in the manner of mounting the clamping member,

Fig. 7 is a plan sectional'view of one of the side rails, in an enlarged scale; and,

Fig. 8 isa similar View, showing a slightly modified construction.

My device consists, essentially, of a screen or shade 10, made of suitable fabric, attached at one end, in this case the upper end, to a roller 11, rotatably mounted within a casing or upper rail 12, and provided at the other end with a cross member or bottom rail 13, extending for the entire width of the screen, by means of which the screen may be operated in one or the other direction.

The bottom rail has the object of uniformly distributing the force appliedto extend the screen; means are also provided to insure correct alinement of the bottom rail at all times, in order to prevent uneven stretching ofthe screen, causing said bottom rail to occupy successive parallel positions throughout Aits travel from one .end of the screen frame to the other. f

The screen winding mechanism preferably used is similar to that described in a cepending application, entitled Winding mechanism for rolling screens, filed Dec. 2, 1925,

` Serial No. 72,760.

The'frame is Vpreferably of the adjustable type, such as illustrated in Fig. 1, described in another copending application, entitled Adjustable rolling screens," filed Dec. 2 1925, Serial No. 72,7 61.l Said frame is composed of a roller casing or top rail 12, two

`side rails 22, 23, and two corner members 74,

75, which are telescopically inserted sidewise within the top rail, rendering the frame adjustable in width, and within'which are telescopically inserted endwise the upper ends of the side'rails,` rendering the frame adjustable in the sense of its height.

The clamping mechanism, however, that 1 will presently describe, can also be used with rolling screens of the ordinary type, where a spring roller and a non-adjustable frame may be employed. y

The side edges of the screen are inserted through corresponding longitudinal slots 76 in the sideV rails, and travel within said rails.

The inner facey of the rear side of the side aA clamping member 102, which extends for` the major portion of the length of the rails, and which is adaptedV to be pressed against strip 100, clamping the screenv edge therebetween. In Fig. 3 the clamping member is shown in itsdetached position, allowing free movement of the screen,and in Fig. 2, the sameiis shown inits Vclamping position,

' l when the screen is held at each side throughout its length.

.The clamping member is Vpreferably,made with a channel section, as shown in Fig. 8,

combined action of a spring tending to move said clamping member in a longitudinal direction, and wedge or cam-acting surfaces causing transversal displacement of the clamping member towards the yrearr side of the side rail, when said longitudinal motion takes place. A toggle or link action such as illustrated in Fig. 7 will alsodo.V a a Manufacturing considerations, however, make itr preferable to use the cam action of inclined surfaces integral with the clamping member, abutting against similar surfaces integral with thesiderail, as shown in Figs. 2, 3. 4. v

The spring action tending to move the clamping member in a longitudinal direction is provided byatension spring103, attached at lthe upper end at 104 to the side rail, and at the lower end to a pin 105 integral with the clamping member. The said clamping member is provided with a plurality of outwardly downwardly inclined wedge members 106, which are slidably interlocking Valong theirinclined side with similar wedge members 107, fixed in an inverted direction onto the inner surface of the front sideV of the side rail. yIt is obvious, therefore, that any longitudinal movement of the clamping member will simultaneously cause its front to rear displacement, owing to the mutual action of one set of wedge members upon the other. Y

l/ Vhen spring 103 is allowed to pull up the clamping member, therefore, the same Will be forcedfagainst clamping strip 100, and the i force exerted by the spring upon the clamping member will be translated into pressure of the' is exerted by thespring.

One of the advantages of the arrangement described, `is that the pressure exerted by and against the clamping member, is uniformly distributed throughout-its length, or at least considerable, even if onlyV a moderate tension at relatively short intervals; this .prevents outward bulgingV of the clamping member, and insures an even clamping action'throughout the entire length of the screen.

This is quite an essential feature.inasmuch i Yasl have found that where the means 'actun 'atingor supporting theclamping 'members are limited to two, one at the upper and one at the lower end of the screemthe resulting clamping actionis not satisfactory.

The construction of a device of this kind i is necessarily light and therefore, the clamping members which are ofconsiderable length" will bulgemidway of their length if they are retained onlyV at the two ends; yThe screen itself is a flimsy fabric and it will be understood Vthat the slightest bulging-of the clamp-v ing membersY is sufficient to permit free moyement ofthescreen. By-applyi1-ig the pressure against the clamping members at frequent intervals, the light structure of said clamping members may be preserved and at the same time aV most effective clamping action will be secured.

It will be observed that while the action of the clamping members can be obtained by hand controlled means, a spring is employed and preferred. The reason `for this is that a spring can be released suddenly and thus permits the employment of automatic means for releasing` the clamping members. In additionlto this, the action of a spring is sudden and of such a nature as to impart to the clamping members a momentum rendering their clamping action more effective when the screen is actually pressed between the clamping surfaces.

`Another advantage of the arrangement described resides in the use of a plastic packing for the clamping members on both sides of the screen. In my other Patent No. 1,545,282 above referred to, I illustrate the employment of a plastic packing on but one side and from subsequent experience, I have found that the clamping action is much more effective if the plastic material is used both at the rear and at the front of the screen.

For one thing, the resiliency or yielding capacity of the packing is thereby doubled; furthermore, the impression of the texture of the screemdue to the `pressure exerted by the clamping means, causes the interstices between the wires of which the screen is composed to be iilled up on both sides, providing an actual interlocking action of the packing with the screen in addition to the mere frictional resistance due to the pressure, effectively preventing side slipping of the screen in relation to the clamping members.

rIhe device comprises an operating mechanism for each clamping member, which is operable by hand to set the clamping member into inoperative position, yand which is released automatically by the action ofthe bottom rail. f

Said mechanism comprises a rack member 108, slidably mounted for vertical movement, by means of slots 109, 110, through which pins 111, 112, xed internally to the front side of the side rail, are inserted. Said rack member is connected to the clamping member by means of a link 113, and is operated by means of a pinion 114 in mesh with said rack member, mounted on a shaft 115 rotatably insertedV through the front of the Aside rail. Said shaft projects through the front of the side rail at 116 and is provided with a hand lever 117 by means of which the pinion may be rotated as much as the length of slots 109, 110, will allow.

' Said rack member is provided with two inwardly projecting lugs 118, 119, which are adapted, respectively, to be engaged and retained against upward motion, by hook member 120 of a crank lever 121 pivotally mounted at 122 at the lower end of the side rail, when the rack member is moved downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 4, where a slight further downward motion of said rack member is possible; and by hook member 123 of a lever 124, pivotally mounted within said side rail at 125 at a point above support 122, when said rack member is moved to the extreme end of its downward travel, as illustrated in Fig. 3. hen levers 117, 117 are inwardly rotated one-half turn, so that from the upwardly directed position shown in Fig. 1 they are brought to the downwardly directed position shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5, therefore, the rack members are first engaged by levers 121, and then by levers 124, in two successive locking steps. The levers are operated in this manner when the clamping member is in clamping position, to force it to its detached or inoperative position against the action of spring 103. The resulting downward movement of the rack members, transmitted to the clamping member, will produce a downward outwardly inclined motion of the clamping member, owing to the interlocking connection between the inclined portions of the wedge members, by means of inwardly bent tongues 126.

Levers 121, 124, are operated by springs 127, 128, respectively, said springs abutting against pins 129, 130, laterally projecting from the hook members, and tending to maintain said hook members in locking position. Lever 121 is formed with a rearwardly projecting arm 131, which will cause angular motion of said lever to unlocking position, if pressed downwardly. Lever 124 is formed with a radial projection 132, against which abuts a pin 133 carried by a lost motion arm 134, pivotally mounted coaxially with the lever at 125, by virtue of spring 128. When arm 134 is moved in a counter-clockwise di rection with reference to Figs. 3, 4, pin 133 will force lever 124'to follow the movement, causing unlocking of the hook member 123; this function is illustrated in Fig. 4, where the screen has been lowered to a point where the shoulder end projection of the bottom rail, 13, bears against arm 134, causing unlocking of the rack member by hook member 123.

On the other hand, arm 134 may be rotated in the opposite direction, without interfering with lever 124, pin 133 moving away from the surface of projection 132, against which it bears.

By virtue of this construction, it will be observed that when the clamping member has been fully lowered, as shown in Fig. 3, rack member 108 is locked against upward motion by locking member 123. Locking member 120 is also set in locking position,

but lug 118 remains at a certain distance from i tarily pull rup thek clamping member, until lug 118 strikes locking member 120. At this point, ythe clamping member is once more locked against upward motion. As the bottom rail continues to descend, however, ultimately reaching the extreme end of its travel, shoulder end 13 comes to bear against arm 131, forcing lever 121 to unlocking position;

the spring 103 is now fully free to cause upward motion of the clamping member to clamping position, as shown in F ig. 2. This action is very quick, and theclamping member will actually snap into clamping posi-V tion, while the screen is fully extended and lever 121 is held in a position where it is prevented from engaging lug 118 even' if the rack member is lowered.

The object of the arrangement described, is to lock the clamping member in its detached position even though levers 121 are inoperative, when levers 117, 11T arey actuated to lower therack members; these will be locked against return motion the moment hook members 123 are freeto snap into locking position, lugs-119 having passed beyondsaid hook members. At this time, the sides of the screen are not' clamped, and the screen is free to move upwardly, to be rewound. 1When the winding mechanism described in my appli- 'cation No. 7 2,7 60 is employed, however, there is no tendency'in the screen to rewind of its own accord, and the bottom rail must be operated in the manner previously described. The locking and operating mechanism for the clamping member, as described, is therefore especially adapted for use in connection with said winding mechanism.

vThe operating mechanism for the clamping member must accordingly be suitably modified if the winding mechanism is of the selfrolling or other different type. V

As explained, the upward movement of the bottom rail may proceed unhampered, without releasing therack members,'by causing lost mot-ion of arms 134; as soon as thebottom rail is passed, springs 128 will once more cause arms 134 to resumetheir outwardly extended position. f

YIn practice it may be founddifficult to secure strip 100 in position; therefore, if pre-V ferred, the strip may iirst'befplaced on and cemented to metalholding strip l135, as

shown at 100 in Fig. 8, .and said metal strip v may be secured'in: position in any suitable manner with greater ease.

Figs.'7, 8,.also show asomewhat'diferent mounting'of shaft 116, which is provided to pass through and to be retained by an extra bracket member 136, secured to the outer side of the side rail. r

Instead of the wedge members 106, 107, an arrangement such as illustrated in Fig. 6 may be resorted to, to produce inward movement of the clamping member while it moves in a longitudinal direction. In this arrangement, the clamping member 102 is attached to the front side 77 ofthe side rail, by means of a plurality of links .137, which are pivotally mounted, as at 138, on said side rail, so as to be able to angularly move in a vertical plane from a substantially horizontal position to a downwardly inclined one, or vice versa. This swinging motion of the links obviously corresponds -to front to rear displacement of the clamping member, the tendency of the spring pulling the clamping member upwardly being to extend the links to their horizontal position, corresponding to the maximum clamping action. Y f Y However, in practice I prefer to employ the wedge or cam members previously described,

because of the greater easefafforde'd in assembling the structure, and the stronger construction resulting. v

' It is possible,fby suitableairangements, to cause the moving and locking of the'clamping members to their Vdetached position, by means associated with the bottom rail. Such a possibilityy is illustrated, yfor instance, in my other patent for Rolling screens,r above referred to. However, such an arrangement would be likely to entail complications of design and of construction, which might reflectv upon the positive and reliable operation of the device; therefore the separate control of the clamp releasing means illustrated and described, should be understood toi-represent the preferred arrangement.

It will be observed, Vthat for the locking or Y clamping action to occur,it is necessary that the screen be lowered tothe very end of its Y travel ,-this is so arranged on purpose, to insure full extension and tight closure all l around the edges of the screen, so that mosquitoes may not lind the smallest clearance through which they might pass.

The drawings are mainly intended for the purpose ofv illustration, and not in a limiting'.

enter, fairly, into the scope of the appended claims.` y

I claim: Y

1. VIn a device of the class described comprising a frame anda panel movable within the same,longitudinal clamping means for the edges 'of saidfpanel, hand controlledl means independent of said panel,u mounted on'said frame, for setting said clamping means in their inoperative position, and means controlled by said panel. adapted to set said clamping means in their operative position.

2. In a device of the class described comprising a frame and a Vpanel movable Within the same, longitudinal clamping means for the edges ot said panel, hand controlled means mounted on said frame, for setting said clamping means in their inoperative position, means also mounted on said frame for retaining said clamping means in said position, and means controlled by said panel for releasing said retaining means.

3. In a device of the class described comprising a frame and a panel movable Within the same, longitudinally movable clamping members for thel edges of said panel, springs mounted Within said frame, tending to cause longitudinal motion Voi said clamping members and cam-acting means forcing said clamping members in the clamping'dired tion during the course of their longitudinal movement.

4. In a device of the class described comprising a iramel and a panel movable Within the same, longitudinally movable clamping membersfor the edges of said panel', springs mounted within said ltrame, tending to cause longitudinal motion of said clamping members and cam-acting means forcing said clamping members in the clamping direction during the course of their longitudinal movement, means also mounted on said frame, for retaining said clamping members in their inoperative position, and means controlled by said panel for releasing/'said retaining means.

5. In a device of the class described com prising al frame and a panel movable Within the same, clamping members for the edges of said panel, springs mounted Within said frame, tending to force said clamping members into clamping posi-tion, hand controlled means also mounted on said frame, for setting said clamping members in their inoperative position, means for retaining said clamping members in said inoperative position, and means for releasing said retaining means.

6. In a device of the class described comprisin-g a frame andl a panel movable Within the same, clamping members for the edges of said panel, springs mounted Within said frame tending to torce said clamping members into clamping position, hand controlled means also mounted on'said frame, for setting said clamping members in their inoperative position, means `for retaining said clamping members in said inoperative position, and means associated with said panel for releasing said retaining means.

7. In a device or' the class described comprising a frame having tWo side members and a panel movable Within the same, longitudinally movable clamping members for the edges of said panel, springs mounted Within said frame tending to move said clamping members longitudinally in one kdirection and means also mounted on said frame, causing transversal movement of said clamping mem- When their longitudinal movement takes place.

8. In a device of the class described comprising a frame having tWo side members and a panel movable Within the same, longitudinally movable clamping members for the edges ot' said panel, springs mounted Within said :trame tending to move said clamping members longitudinally in one direction, and means also mounted on said frame causing transversal movement oi said clamping members in the clamping direction when the longitudinal movement due to the action of said springs is allowed to take place.

9. In a device of the class described comprising a frame having two side members and a panel movable Within the same, longitudinally movable clamping members for the edges of said panel, springs mounted Within said frame tending to move said clamping members longitudinally in one direction, means also mounted on said frame for locking said clamping members against the action of said springs, means for releasing said locking means, and means causing transversal movement of said clamping members in the clamping direction when their longitudinal movement due to the action of said springs is allowed to take place.

l0. In a device of the class described comprising a frame having two side members and a panel movable Within the same, longitudinally movable clamping members for the edges of said panel, springs mounted Withinl said frame tending to move said clamping members longitudinally in one direction, means also mounted on said frame for locking said clamping members against the action of said springs, means for releasing said' locking means and a plurality of spaced cam acting means causing transversal movement l: said clamping members in a clamping direction when their longitudinal movement due to the action of said springs is allowed Vto take place.

11. In a device of the class described comprising a trame having two side members and a panel movable Within the same, longitudinally movable clamping members for the edges of said panel, Vsprings mounted Within said frame tending to move said clamping members longitudinally in one direction, means also mounted on said trame for locking said clamping members against the action of said springs, means associated with said panel for releasing said locking means and a plurality of spaced Wedge means causing transversal movement of said clamping members in a clamping direction when their longitudinal movement due to the action of said springs is allowed to take place.

12. In a device of the class described comprising a trame having two side members and apanel movable within the same and having its edges running through said side members, longitudinally movable clamping members for the edges oi said panel enclosed ywithin said `side members, springs als-o mounted within said side members, tending to cause longitudinal movement of said clamping members in one directiw,y means carried by said side members for locking said clamping members against the action of said springs, means for releasing said locking means, and

means causing transversal motion of said clamping members m the clamping direction, when their longitudinal movement due to thel action of said springs is allowed to take olace. Y

V13. In adevice of the class described comprising a frame having two side members and a panel movable within the same and having its edges running throughk said side members, longitudinally movable clamping members for the ec ges of said panel enclosed within said side members, springs also mounted within said side members, tending to cause longitudinal movement of said clamping members in one directon,means carried by said side members for loc-king said clamping members against the action of said springs, means associated with said panel for releasing said locking means, means causing transversal motion of said clamping members yin the clamping direction, when their longitudinal movement due to the action of said springs is allowed to take place, and strips of packing material interposed between s said panel and the clamping means at. both the lfrontand rear of said panel.

14. In a device of the class described oomprising a frame having two side members and a panel movable withinthe same, longi-v tudinally movable clamping members for the edges of said panel, and a rack and pinion mechanism for causinglongitudinal mover' ment of said clamping members in one or the other direction. n v A 15. In a device of the classdescribed comek prising a frame having two side members,

and a panel movable within the same, longitudinally movable clamping members for the edges of said panel, springs tending to cause longitudinal movement of said clamping membersin one direction, a rack and pinion mechanism for causing movement of each clamping member in the opposite direction, means for locking said clamping members in their inoperative position against the action of said springs, and means'for releasing said v locking means;

16. In a device of the class describedv comprising a frame having two side members and a panel movable within the same, longitudinally movable clamping members for the edges of said panel, springs mounted within said side members, tending to cause longitudinal movement of said clamping members in one direction, a rack and pinion mechanism carried by said side members, for causing movement of said clamping members in the opposite direction, means for lock ing said clamping members in their inoperative position against Y the action of said springs, means for releasing said locking means and means causing transversal movement of said clamping members in the clamping direction, when their longitudinal movement due to the actionk of said springs is allowed to take place. Y

17. In a device of the class described comprising a Jframe having two side members and a panel movablewithin the same and having its edges running through said members, longitudinally movable clamping membersV for the edges of said panel enclosed within said sidemembers, springsv mounted within said side members tending to cause longitudinal movement of said clamping members in one direction, a rack and pinion mechanism also concealed within said side members adapted to cause longitudinal movement of said clamping members in the opposite direction, means for locking said clampingl members in their inoperative position against the action of said springs,means causing transversal movementof said clamping members in their clamping direction when their longitudinal movement due to the action of said springs is allowed to take place, and a cross member attached to said panel adapted to cause the release of said locking means when said panel has reached a pre-determined position.

18. In a device of the class described comprising a frame having two side members and a panel movable within'said frame and having its edges running through said side members, longitudinally movable clamping members for the edges of said panel enclosed withinsaid side members, springs mounted within said side members, tending to cause longitudinal movement of said' clamping members in one direction, hand controlled means for causinglongitudinal movement ofsaid', clamping members in the opposite direction, means for locking said clamping members in their inoperative position against the action of said springs, means causing transversal movement of said clamping members in theirclamping direction when their longitudinal movement due to the action of said springs is allowed to take place, and a cross member 4attached to said panel adapted to cause the,

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